Search Results (65)

(1) Background: This review study will delve into the potential of chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) as adaptable carriers for targeted drug delivery in different therapeutic areas. Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin that has attracted interest in drug delivery applications because of its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. (2) Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted by following a careful systematized protocol for searching databases like PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. (3) Results: Chitosan NPs are good drug delivery vehicles, notably for cancer. Studies reveal that doxorubicin-loaded chitosan NPs dramatically enhance toxicity to tumor cells compared to free medicines, yielding tumor suppression rates of up to 60%. Researchers found that chemotherapeutics had an 85% encapsulation efficiency (EE), lowering systemic toxicity. Magnetic and pH-responsive chitosan NPs boost drug accumulation by 63% and apoptosis by 54%. Chitosan also boosts medication retention in the lungs by 2.3×, per pulmonary delivery trials. Chitosan NPs also boost ocular medication bioavailability by 3× and improve nasal absorption by 30%, crossing the blood–brain barrier. For bone regeneration, chitosan scaffolds enhance bone mineral density by 46%, facilitating osteogenesis and healing. (4) Conclusions: NPs made of chitosan provide a solid foundation for improving drug delivery systems; yet there are still issues with material variability, scalability, and meeting regulatory requirements that need fixing. Research into combination treatments, ways to increase their specificity, and ways to optimize these NPs offers promising prospects for the creation of novel therapeutic approaches with the potential to improve patient outcomes. Full article

The development of greener substitutes for plastics is gaining massive importance in today’s society. This also involves the medical field, where disposable materials are used to grant sterility. Here, a novel protocol using only a water-based solvent for the preparation of bio-based composite foams of actual β-chitin and collagen type I is presented. The influence of the ratio of this chitin polymorph to the collagen on the final material is then studied. The samples with 50:50 and 75:25 ratios produce promising results, such as remarkable water absorption (up to 7000 wt.%), exposed surface (up to 7 m²·g⁻¹), and total pore volume (over 80 vol.%). The materials are also tested using wet mechanical compression, exhibiting a Young’s modulus and tenacity (both calculated between 2% and 25% of deformation) of up to 20 Pa and 9 kPa, respectively. Fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and osteoblasts are grown on these scaffolds. The viability of fibroblasts and keratinocytes is observed for 72 h, whereas the viability of osteoblasts is observed for up to 21 days. Under the two conditions mentioned, cell activity and adhesion work even better than under its counterpart condition of pure collagen. In conclusion, these materials are promising candidates for sustainable regenerative medicine scaffolds or, specifically, as biodegradable wound dressings. Full article

The chitinous skeleton of the marine demosponge Ianthella basta exhibits a unique network-like 3D architecture, excellent capillary properties, and chemical inertness, making it highly suitable for interdisciplinary research, especially in biomedical applications. This study investigates the potential of renewable I. basta chitinous scaffolds for drug delivery and wound dressing. The scaffolds, characterized by a microtubular structure, were impregnated with selected commercially available antiseptics, including solutions with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Evaluations against selected clinical strains of bacteria, as well as fungi, demonstrated significant zones of growth inhibition with antiseptics such as brilliant green, gentian violet, decamethoxine, and polyhexanide. Notably, the antibacterial properties of these antiseptic-treated chitin matrices persisted for over 72 h, effectively inhibiting microbial growth in fresh cultures. These findings highlight the considerable potential of I. basta chitin scaffolds as sustainable, innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release and wound dressing applications. Full article

By using a scaffold hopping/ring equivalent and intermediate derivatization strategies, a series of compounds of 2,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxazoline with substituent changes at the 5-phenyl position were prepared, and their acaricidal activity was studied. However, the synthesized 2,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolines showed lower activity against mite eggs and larvae compared to the 2,4-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolines with the same substituents. We speculate that there is a significant difference in the spatial extension direction of the substituents between the two skeletons of compounds, resulting in differences in their ability to bind to the potential target chitin synthase 1. This work is helpful in inferring the internal structure of chitin synthase binding pockets. Full article

Gap injuries to the peripheral nervous system result in pain and loss of function, without any particularly effective therapeutic options. Within this context, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes have emerged as a potential therapeutic option. Thus, the focus of this study was to review currently available data on MSC-derived exosome-mounted scaffolds in peripheral nerve regeneration in order to identify the most promising scaffolds and exosome sources currently in the field of peripheral nerve regeneration. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Exosome origins varied (adipose-derived MSCs, bone marrow MSCs, gingival MSC, induced pluripotent stem cells and a purified exosome product) similarly to the materials (Matrigel, alginate and silicone, acellular nerve graft [ANG], chitosan, chitin, hydrogel and fibrin glue). The compound muscle action potential (CMAP), sciatic functional index (SFI), gastrocnemius wet weight and histological analyses were used as main outcome measures. Overall, exosome-mounted scaffolds showed better regeneration than scaffolds alone. Functionally, both exosome-enriched chitin and ANG showed a significant improvement over time in the sciatica functional index, CMAP and wet weight. The best histological outcomes were found in the exosome-enriched ANG scaffold with a high increase in the axonal diameter and muscle cross-section area. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of exosome-mounted scaffolds in peripheral nerve regeneration. Full article

Chitin and chitosan, abundant biopolymers derived from the shells of crustaceans and the cell walls of fungi, have garnered considerable attention in pharmaceutical circles due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatile properties. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), emerging green solvents composed of eutectic mixtures of hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, offer promising avenues for enhancing the solubility and functionality of chitin and chitosan in pharmaceutical formulations. This review delves into the potential of utilizing DESs as solvents for chitin and chitosan, highlighting their efficiency in dissolving these polymers, which facilitates the production of novel drug delivery systems, wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and antimicrobial agents. The distinctive physicochemical properties of DESs, including low toxicity, low volatility, and adaptable solvation power, enable the customization of chitin and chitosan-based materials to meet specific pharmaceutical requirements. Moreover, the environmentally friendly nature of DESs aligns with the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This revision underscores recent advances illustrating the promising role of DESs in evolving the pharmaceutical applications of chitin and chitosan, laying the groundwork for the development of innovative drug delivery systems and biomedical materials with enhanced efficacy and safety profiles. Full article

This review focuses on factors and the fabrication techniques affecting the microarchitecture of tissue engineering scaffolds from the second most abundant biopolymer, chitin. It emphasizes the unique potentiality of this polymer in tissue engineering (TE) applications and highlights the variables important to achieve tailored scaffold properties. First, we describe aspects of scaffolds’ design, and the complex interplay between chitin types, solvent systems, additives, and fabrication techniques to incorporate porosity, with regard to best practices. In the following section, we provide examples of scaffolds’ use, with a focus on in vitro cell studies. Finally, an analysis of their biodegradability is presented. Our review emphasizes the potentiality of chitin and the pressing need for further research to overcome existing challenges and fully harness its capabilities in tissue engineering. Full article

Chitin is a structural polysaccharide abundant in the biosphere. Chitin possesses a highly ordered crystalline structure that makes its processing a challenge. In this study, chitin hydrogels and methanogels, prepared by dissolution in calcium chloride/methanol, were subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) to produce porous materials for use as scaffolds for osteoblasts. The control of the morphology, porosity, and physicochemical properties of the produced materials was performed according to the operational conditions, as well as the co-solvent addition. The dissolution of CO₂ in methanol co-solvent improved the sorption of the compressed fluid into the hydrogel, rendering highly porous chitin scaffolds. The chitin crystallinity index significantly decreased after processing the hydrogel in supercritical conditions, with a significant effect on its swelling capacity. The use of scCO₂ with methanol co-solvent resulted in chitin scaffolds with characteristics adequate to the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts. Full article

Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer derived from chitin, has garnered significant attention in various biomedical applications due to its unique properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mucoadhesiveness. This review provides an overview of the diverse applications of chitosan and its derivatives in the antibacterial, anticancer, wound healing, and tissue engineering fields. In antibacterial applications, chitosan exhibits potent antimicrobial properties by disrupting microbial membranes and DNA, making it a promising natural preservative and agent against bacterial infections. Its role in cancer therapy involves the development of chitosan-based nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimising side effects. Chitosan also plays a crucial role in wound healing by promoting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and regulating inflammatory responses. Additionally, chitosan serves as a multifunctional scaffold in tissue engineering, facilitating the regeneration of diverse tissues such as cartilage, bone, and neural tissue by promoting cell adhesion and proliferation. The extensive range of applications for chitosan in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences is not only highlighted by the comprehensive scope of this review, but it also establishes it as a fundamental component for forthcoming research in biomedicine. Full article

Numerous surgeries are carried out to replace tissues that have been harmed by an illness or an accident. Due to various surgical interventions and the requirement of bone substitutes, the emerging field of bone tissue engineering attempts to repair damaged tissues with the help of scaffolds. These scaffolds act as template for bone regeneration by controlling the development of new cells. For the creation of functional tissues and organs, there are three elements of bone tissue engineering that play very crucial role: cells, signals and scaffolds. For the achievement of these aims, various types of natural polymers, like chitosan, chitin, cellulose, albumin and silk fibroin, have been used for the preparation of scaffolds. Scaffolds produced from natural polymers have many advantages: they are less immunogenic as well as being biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic and cost effective. The hierarchal structure of bone, from microscale to nanoscale, is mostly made up of organic and inorganic components like nanohydroxyapatite and collagen components. This review paper summarizes the knowledge and updates the information about the use of natural polymers for the preparation of scaffolds, with their application in recent research trends and development in the area of bone tissue engineering (BTE). The article extensively explores the related research to analyze the advancement of nanotechnology for the treatment of bone-related diseases and bone repair. Full article

Background: Naturally derived sustainable biomaterials with high flexibility, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and the ability to manipulate surface chemistry, providing a natural cellular environment, can be used for tissue engineering applications. However, only a few researchers have demonstrated the exploitation of natural architectures for constructing three-dimensional scaffolds. The chemical decellularization technique for fabricating natural scaffolds and their cytocompatibility assessment for tissue engineering applications need to be thoroughly explored and evaluated. Methods: Decellularization of natural scaffolds has been performed via a chemical method using anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) which was used for the in vitro culturing of murine embryonic NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), compressive testing and swelling ratio, and biodegradation were performed to characterize the properties of fabricated decellularized natural scaffolds. Nucleic acid quantification, DAPI, and H&E staining were performed to confirm the removal of nuclear components. In vitro cytocompatibility and live/dead staining assays were performed to evaluate cultured fibroblasts’ metabolic activity and qualitative visualization. Results: 3D chitin/glucan- and cellulose-based scaffolds from edible mushroom (stem) (DMS) and unripe jujube fruit tissue (DUJF) were fabricated using the chemical decellularization technique. FE-SEM shows anisotropic microchannels of highly microporous structures for DMS and isotropic and uniformly arranged microporous structures with shallow cell cavities for DUJF. Both scaffolds exhibited good mechanical properties for skin tissue engineering and DUJF showed a higher compressive strength (200 kPa) than DMS (88.3 kPa). It was shown that the DUJF scaffold had a greater swelling capacity than the DMS scaffold under physiological conditions. At 28 days of incubation, DUJF and DMS displayed approximately 14.97 and 15.06% biodegradation, respectively. In addition, DUJF had greater compressive strength than DMS. Compared to DMS scaffolds, which had a compressive stress of 0.088 MPa at a 74.2% strain, the DUJF scaffolds had a greater compressive strength of 0.203 MPa at a 73.6% strain. The removal of nuclear DNA in the decellularized scaffolds was confirmed via nucleic acid quantification, DAPI, and H&E staining. Furthermore, both of these scaffolds showed good adherence, proliferation, and migration of fibroblasts. DMS showed better biocompatibility and high viability of cells than DUJF. Conclusions: This sustainable scaffold fabrication strategy is an alternative to conventional synthetic approaches for the in vitro 3D culture of mammalian cells for various tissue engineering and cultured meat applications. Full article

Chitosan (CS) is a natural cationic polysaccharide obtained via the N-deacetylation of chitin. It has various outstanding biological properties such as nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties. Minerals can be deposited on the CS template using different methods to construct composites with structures and functions similar to those of natural bone tissue. These ideal scaffolds can produce bone via osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction, with good biocompatibility and mechanical properties, and are thus considered promising novel biomaterials for repairing hard tissue defects. In the last decade, the field of mineralized CS scaffolds has provided novel fundamental knowledge and techniques to better understand the aforementioned fascinating phenomenon. This study mainly focused on the basic structures and properties of mineralized CS scaffolds to understand the current research progress and explore further development. Further, it summarizes the types, preparation methods, components, properties, and applications of mineralized CS scaffolds in bone tissue engineering during the last 5 years. The defects and shortcomings of the scaffolds are discussed, and possible improvement measures are put forward. We aimed to provide complete research progress on mineralized CS scaffolds in bone tissue engineering for researchers and clinicians, and also ideas for the next generation of mineralized CS scaffolds. Full article

Skeletal constructs of diverse marine sponges remain to be a sustainable source of biocompatible porous biopolymer-based 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering and technology, especially structures isolated from cultivated demosponges, which belong to the Verongiida order, due to the renewability of their chitinous, fibre-containing architecture focused attention. These chitinous scaffolds have already shown excellent and promising results in biomimetics and tissue engineering with respect to their broad diversity of cells. However, the mechanical features of these constructs have been poorly studied before. For the first time, the elastic moduli characterising the chitinous samples have been determined. Moreover, nanoindentation of the selected bromotyrosine-containing as well as pigment-free chitinous scaffolds isolated from selected verongiids was used in the study for comparative purposes. It was shown that the removal of bromotyrosines from chitin scaffolds results in a reduced elastic modulus; however, their hardness was relatively unaffected. Full article

Aminopolysaccharide chitin is one of the main structural biopolymers in sponges that is responsible for the mechanical stability of their unique 3D-structured microfibrous and porous skeletons. Chitin in representatives of exclusively marine Verongiida demosponges exists in the form of biocomposite-based scaffolds chemically bounded with biominerals, lipids, proteins, and bromotyrosines. Treatment with alkalis remains one of the classical approaches to isolate pure chitin from the sponge skeleton. For the first time, we carried out extraction of multilayered, tube-like chitin from skeletons of cultivated Aplysina aerophoba demosponge using 1% LiOH solution at 65 °C following sonication. Surprisingly, this approach leads not only to the isolation of chitinous scaffolds but also to their dissolution and the formation of amorphous-like matter. Simultaneously, isofistularin-containing extracts have been obtained. Due to the absence of any changes between the chitin standard derived from arthropods and the sponge-derived chitin treated with LiOH under the same experimental conditions, we suggest that bromotyrosines in A. aerophoba sponge represent the target for lithium ion activity with respect to the formation of LiBr. This compound, however, is a well-recognized solubilizing reagent of diverse biopolymers including cellulose and chitosan. We propose a possible dissolution mechanism of this very special kind of sponge chitin. Full article

Treatment of large segmental bone loss caused by fractures, osteomyelitis, and non-union results in expenses of around USD 300,000 per case. Moreover, the worst-case scenario results in amputation in 10% to 14.5% of cases. Biomaterials, cells, and regulatory elements are employed in bone tissue engineering (BTE) to create biosynthetic bone grafts with effective functionalization that can aid in the restoration of such fractured bones, preventing amputation and alleviating expenses. Chitin (CT) and chitosan (CS) are two of the most prevalent natural biopolymers utilized in the fields of biomaterials and BTE. To offer the structural and biochemical cues for augmenting bone formation, CT and CS can be employed alone or in combination with other biomaterials in the form of nanofibers (NFs). When compared with several fabrication methods available to produce scaffolds, electrospinning is regarded as superior since it enables the development of nanostructured scaffolds utilizing biopolymers. Electrospun nanofibers (ENFs) offer unique characteristics, including morphological resemblance to the extracellular matrix, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, permeability, porosity, and stability. This review elaborates on the recent strategies employed utilizing CT and CS ENFs and their biocomposites in BTE. We also summarize their implementation in supporting and delivering an osteogenic response to treat critical bone defects and their perspectives on rejuvenation. The CT- and CS-based ENF composite biomaterials show promise as potential constructions for bone tissue creation. Full article